TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(XOF)
Africaine Franc |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 225, City Code Abidjan 2+5/7D |
Clothing:
Summer clothing is appropriate year round. Umbrellas and light
raincoats are useful during the rainy season.
Customs:
Visas are required for entry to Cote d'Ivoire and neighboring
West African countries. Airport visas are not available. If no
Ivorian representation exists in the country where the visa is
sought, it may be applied for at a French embassy or consulate.
Health: The incidence
of disease in Cote d'Ivoire is higher than in the United States.
Health risks can be minimized by proper immunizations, food preparation,
and strict sanitary practices. Tapwater is not potable. Malaria
prophylaxis is a must and should be taken before and during a
visit to Cote d'Ivoire.
Telecommunications:
Local phone service is adequate. International calls can be dialed
directly to the United States and many other countries. It is
sometimes easier to make an international call than to reach local
or in-country numbers. Cote d'Ivoire is 5 hours ahead of eastern
standard time.
Transportation: Air
Afrique has two flights per week direct from New York to Abidjan.
European carriers provide once-weekly flights as follows: British
Air, London/Abidjan; Iberia, Madrid/Abidjan; Swiss Air, Zurich/Geneva/Abidjan;
Sabena, Brussels/Abidjan. In addition, Air Afrique and UTA provide
daily service from Paris to Abidjan. Air Ivoire serves the country's
principle cities, and small planes are available for charter.
Air fares are expensive. Daily railroad passenger service is available
between Abidjan and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Most Abidjan roads
are paved. An excellent network of roads links virtually all major
towns. All unpaved roads are dusty during the dry season and slippery
during the rainy season. Four-wheel drive vehicles are essential
for trips into the more isolated areas. Third-party liability
insurance is mandatory. Metered taxis, whose fares are relatively
low, and rental cars, which are expensive, are available.
